Nyctaginaceae

plural noun

Nyc·​ta·​gi·​na·​ce·​ae

ˌniktəjəˈnāsēˌē

: a family of chiefly American herbs and rarely shrubs or trees (order Caryophyllales) having apetalous flowers with an involucere simulating a calyx and fruit enclosed by the persistent base of the perianth

nyctaginaceous

¦⸗⸗⸗¦nāshəs

adjective

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Nyctagin-, Nyctago, type genus (obsolete synonym of Mirabilis) (from nyct- + -agin-, -ago —as in Plantagin-, Plantago —) + -aceae

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